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Help with Free-motion quilting Breaking too many needles

Help with Free-motion quilting Breaking too many needles

Old 12-19-2009, 05:37 PM
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Hi everyone,

I seem to be breaking a lot of needles when doing free motion quilting. I have lowered my feed dogs, put my pressure foot tension down as far as possible. What else can I do? The owner of my local Husqvarna shop suggested using a hoop. Any other suggestions.

Thanks
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Old 12-19-2009, 05:45 PM
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are they hitting something and breaking? maybe your moving the fabric while the needle is down? we all have trouble geeting our timing right at first
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Old 12-19-2009, 06:15 PM
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I guess my 1st question would be what kind of needle are you using? Sometimes I use the denim...sometimes the quilting....sometimes the topstitch.

Then it just might be a timing issue on your part. It is hard to find just the right rhythm sometimes...
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Old 12-19-2009, 06:29 PM
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Are you using a hopping foot? I had given up on ever being able to do free motion quilting until I starting using a hopping foot for free motion quilting. I'm still no expert but it's one hundred percent better than it was before.
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Old 12-19-2009, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by ddrobins1956
Are you using a hopping foot? I had given up on ever being able to do free motion quilting until I starting using a hopping foot for free motion quilting. I'm still no expert but it's one hundred percent better than it was before.
that would also be my question. Are you using the right foot? I just started fmq myself and I have a very old husqvarna too. My needles break if I pull the fabric the tinyest bit.
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Old 12-19-2009, 09:34 PM
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What size needle are you using? It may be too fine. I usually piece with a size 80 needle but fmq with a size 90.
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Old 12-19-2009, 11:04 PM
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Is a spring loaded darning foot the same as a hopping foot?
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Old 12-20-2009, 03:53 AM
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I was told by a knowlegeable friend that a certain Husqvarna would not do free motion quilting so I didn't buy this used machine. It was a machine about 10 years old or so.
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Old 12-20-2009, 05:17 AM
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Yes, the spring loaded darning foot is the "hopping foot" Marge
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Old 12-20-2009, 08:20 AM
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I am using the foot that hops. I have been told by the store owner that this machine is a good one for fmqing. I have a machine quilting needle in it right now that is a size 80. Maybe I need to try a 90 instead, and then maybe I should try some different size needles.
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